Written by: Aysha Ridzuan

In an exciting LIVE telecast Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League match on Friday night, Geylang International FC were denied all three points after being held to a 2-2 draw by Warriors FC at Jalan Besar Stadium.

This was the Eagles’ fifth stalemate of the season, but they maintain their unbeaten start to the season after six games and currently sit in fifth place in the league table, with Warriors moving up to second place.

Warriors took the lead early in the game, with Jonathan Behe scoring his sixth goal in as many games.

Gabriel Quak then equalised for Geylang early in the second period before Carlos Delgado fired the hosts ahead with a stunning goal in the 86th minute. However, Ridhuan Muhammad restored parity for the designated visitors one minute from time.

The hosts started off brightly and created their first chance just nine minutes into the game when Branko Cubrilo headed on Quak’s cross for Carlos Delgado, but the Argentinian’s shot went wide of the mark.

The Eagles were made to pay for that miss in the 16th minute when Warriors took the lead after Syaqir Sulaiman knocked down Shaiful Esah’s corner for Behe to slam home his sixth goal of the season from close range.

The Eagles were looking for a quick response after going a goal down, but when Quak met Faritz Hameed’s cross, he sent his shot went over the bar before sending his free-kick wide from 20-yards a few minutes later.

Both teams then made early substitutions when Warriors made their first change in the 23rd minute with Shaiful Esah replaced with Hafiz Nor, while the Eagles replaced an injured Yuki Ichikawa with Shariff Samat ten minutes later.

Warriors custodian Yazid Yasin continued his recent fine performances, when he brilliantly saved Quak’s dangerous free-kick in the 25th minute.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead in the 39th minute when Nicola Rak made a good run down the left flank to meet Behe’s cross, but saw his shot hit the post instead.

Geylang should have pulled level three minutes before the break when Sahil Suhaimi laid off the ball to Nor Azli Yusoff, but Yazid pulled off another top-drawer save to deny the latter’s piledriver.

The Eagles came out firing after the break though, and were quickly on level terms just five minutes into the second period when Carlos Delgado’s cross found Quak and the winger fired home with a fierce left-footed shot.

Sahil should have given Geylang the lead when he broke through Warriors’ defence to slam a dangerous shot at goal, which Yazid could only punch into the path of Quak. However, the 25-year-old was flagged for offside when he poked the rebound into the back of the net.

Behe then tried his luck after drifting past the Eagles’ backline from the left flank and into the box, but saw his attempt flew wide of the goalpost.

Geylang continued to press Warriors and finally took the lead for the first time in the game when Delgado slammed home a long-range shot from 25-yards out, leaving Yazid with no chance.

But the Eagles were made to settle for yet another draw when substitute Ridhuan capped off his debut for the Warriors by turning home a well-worked team move.

Geylang International FC assistant coach Md Noor Ali: “I think we didn’t come out to play in the first half. We definitely did better in the second half when we were putting more pressure on Warriors.

“It is disappointing to get only one point especially to concede in the last minute. We should have killed off the game.”

Warriors FC coach Jorg Steinebrunner: “We should have been 2-0 up in the first half then things would have been different. That’s what football is all about. One goal can make a change. We lost two points but it’s still a good point. It is going to be a tight season.”

Geylang International FC: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Yuki Ichikawa (Shariff Samat 30’), Daniel Bennet, Faritz Hameed, Al-Qaasimy, Isa Halim, Gabriel Quak, Nor Azli, Carlos Delgado, Sahil Suhaimi, Branko Cubrilo.

Warriors FC: Yazid Yasin (GK), Zulfadli Zainal, Kento Fukuda, Madhu Mohana, Shaiful Esah (Hafiz Nor 23’), Emmeric Ong, Poh Yi Feng, Syaqir Sulaiman (Ridhuan Muhammad 65’), Nikola Rak, Hafiz Rahim, Jonathan Behe